Description

This volume presents the latest explorations of the literary turn in ethnographic work by many of the leading people in the area. Centering on autoethnography, personal narrative, ethnographic performance, and the blending of social science and the arts, the articles collected here emphasize embodiment, experiential understanding, participatory ways of knowing, sensuous engagement, and intimate encounter. Drawing from disciplines as diverse as sociology, philosophy, performance studies, communication, family therapy, and English, the authors here demonstrate the many ways in which ethnography can be effectively conducted and expressed. The editors weave narrative and conversations surrounding the conference from which these pieces emerged into a reflexive volume which includes poetry, stories, theatre, and visual media as well as critical pieces. Accessible and jargon free, this book should excite scholars and students as to the expanding possibilities for ethnographic presentation.

About Author

Arthur P. Bochner and Carolyn Ellis are Professors of Communication, University of South Florida. They are the editors of AltaMira's series Ethnographic Alternatives.

Contents

Part 1 BEFORE Chapter 2 How Does a Conference Begin? Part 3 OPENING Chapter 4 Ethnographic Representation as Relationship Part 5 CULTURE EMBODIED: PERFORMING AUTOETHNOGRAPHY Chapter 6 For Father and Son: An Ethnodrama with No Catharsis Chapter 7 The Way We Were, Are, and Might Be: Torch Singing as Autoethnography Chapter 8 Making A Mess and Spreading it Around: Articulation of An Approach to Research-Based Theatre Chapter 9 Interlude: Breaking Habits and Cultivating Home Part 10 WOUNDED STORYTELLERS: VULNERABILITY, IDENTITY, AND NARRATIVE Chapter 11 Stories that Conform/Stories that Transform: A Conversation in Four Parts Chapter 12 Part I: Autoethnographies: Constraints, Openings, Ontologies, and Endings Chapter 13 My Father's Shoes: The Therapeutic Value of Narrative Reframing Chapter 14 Part 2. Autoethnography, Therapy and the Telling of Lives Chapter 15 Erotic Mentoring: Pygmalion and Galatea at the University Chapter 16 Breathing Life into Work Chapter 17 Part 3: Publish and Perish Chapter 18 Searching for Autoethnographic Credibility: Reflections from a Mom with a Notepad Chapter 19 Part 4: Healing and Conecting Chapter 20 Border Crossings: A Story of Sexual Identity Transformation Chapter 21 Rebirthing "Border Crossings" Chapter 22 Interlude: Autoethnography: Self-indulgence or Something More Part 23 ETHNOGRAPHIC AESTHETICS: ARTFUL INQUIRY Chapter 24 Prelude: Collage Chapter 25 The Hard Road Home: Towards a Polyphonic Narrative of the Mother/Daughter Relationship Chapter 26 Living the Hyphenated Edge: Autoethnography, Hybridity and Aesthetics Chapter 27 The Visitor: Juggling Life in the Grip of the Text Chapter 28 Interlude: If the Color Changes, 1996/97 Part 29 BETWEEN LITERATURE AND ETHNOGRAPHY Chapter 30 The Griot's Many Burdens/Fiction's Many Truths Chapter 31 Beirut Letters Chapter 32 Babaji and Me: Reflections on a Fictional Ethnography Chapter 33 Men Kissing Chapter 34 Interlude: High Noon Part 35 CLOSING Chapter 36 Between the Ride and the Story:Illness and Remoralization Chapter 37 Interlude: The Metaphor is the Message Part 38 AFTER Chapter 39 Narrative Heat Chapter 40 When Does a Conference End?